Multiple control.



-H. T. HERR.

MULTIPLE CONTROL.

APPLICATION man MAY?. |913.

Patented .Tune 26, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H'. T. HERR.

MULTIPLE CONTROL.

AePMcATloN man MAY 1, 1913.

Patented June 26, 1917.n

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- w/TNES T T HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT.

H. T. HERR. MUlITIPLECON'TROL.

APPLICATION HLED MAYJ'. |913.

Patented June 26,191.7.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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H/S ATTORNEY IN FACT.

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HEBBERTT. HERR, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIApSSIGNDR, BY MESNIE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 THE STINGHOUSE MACHINE CUMPANY, GF EAST PITTSBGH, PENN'- SYLVANI, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

mutante' conan.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that l, HERBERT T. HERR, a lcitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State4 of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Invention in Multiple Con provide means whereby fluid pressure maybe caused to actuate a relay which in turn may cause amotor to operate. Another object is to provide means whereby a plurality ,of 'devices may be caused to operate synchronously. Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the speed of the-motor controlled by the relay may. be governed.` Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a plurality l of motors may be caused to operate in uni- Fig..4 isa sectional view through'a por.

tion of the operating handle for the con# Fig. 5 is a detail view of the operating handle.

Referring now to thedrawings by. nu-

` -merals of reference:

10 designates a main reservoirin which air at a predetermined pressure may be stored. The main reservoir 10 communicates with a controller 11 through a pipe 12,. and the controllerfll supplies air. to a plurality of relays,-in the present instance two, indicated by the reference numerals application alga nay 7, raie. serial no. manos( son and may correspondingly be caused to cease operation. l have shown the inven' vSpecification of Letters Patent. watgymmd Jun@ 2G59 jlgyjw'o 13 and 14,-through the pipe 15 and its branches 16 and 17. Each relay is ofthe slngle-acting type, for example, the. one designated by 14 consisting of acylinder 18, a piston 19, a spring 20 acting against the plston which is opposed by the pressure delivered through a controller pipe 17 communicating with thecylinder 18. The relays control-the delivery of air pressure to the motors 21 and .22, each motor being attached to a valve, as for example, the one designated by the numerals 23 and 24. The

motor V22 is approximately the same construction as that designated by the reference numeralV 21 and consists of a cylinder 25 having therein a piston 26 between which and one end of the cylinder 22 is a spring 27 which may be opposed by air pressure from `the main reservoir. .A motor controlling valve 28 on the stem'29 isl adapted to slide in a cylinder 30 carried by the relay cylinder 18. The cylinder 30 is in communication with the main reservoir 10 throughmJ pipe' 31 and air may be delivered from said cylinder 30through apipe 32 to acylinder 25. The cylinder. 30 is valso provided with an exhaust port 33- which l Vmay be closed by a valve 34 `on the 'stemfi 29. Thestem 29 is` connected tothe. stem ofthe pistonlgbyga lever 35 and the links 36. l The lever 35 is also -connected -to the s tem 26 of the piston y26 at 37. 'lihe stem '26 also carries the-balanced valve38 in' i the valve casingf24. The cylinder 30 4cor-y A responds. to the cylinder 30and is attached to the motor 13 and it receives air pressure from a branch pipe 31', which is' really partof. thepipe 31. -From the pipe 31' air may pass through the cylinder 3Q to a pipe :32' to the motor 121. The operating'mecha-4 nisms for the'relay motor controlling valve and the motor, as well as a connection for the movable element of the valve 23 are like those described tor the valve 24, soit is thought that it is not necessary to enter Y into a detailed description at this time.

l shall now proceed to :describe indetail the air' distributing mechanismwhich is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5:

lldd

The air distributing device is illustrated ascomprising a casing having a central cy lindrical portion 39 divided by a partltlon or wall 40. This cylindrical portion is provided witb'reinovable ends 41 and 42. By

reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the partition divides the casing of the distributer into an upper chamber 43 and a lower chamber 44. In the upper chamber is a reciprocatory valve 45 mounted on a. hollow stem 46. The valve is adapted to alternately cover and uncover the inlet port 47 and exhaust port 48. When the inlet port 47 is uncovered by the valve, air may enter through said port 47 to the upper chamber 43 and into the chamber 44 through the port 49. There is ay piston 50 in the chamber 44 which is normally pressed in one direction by the spring- 51, one end of which bears against a piston rod 52 and the other end of which bears against the end 41 of the casing. The piston rod is connected by an articulated joint to an operating handle 53 at 52. The operating handle is provided with elongated slots 54 in which slide blocks 55 pivoted at 56 to the valve stem 46. The handle is guided in a slotted segmental bar 57 supported on i the casing of the distributer 11. The handle 53 may be held in any position along said bar by the friction clutch 58 (see Fig. 5); if desired the segmental bar may be calibrated to guide the operator in determining the position of the handle for an)7 degree of pressure to be maintained inl thel distributing device.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that that part of the chamber 44 inV rear "of the piston 50 is adapted to communicate With the interior of the hollow valve stem 46 throughthe ports 59 and 60 so that any air which may leak ast the piston may be exhausted through tie atmospheric exhaust 48 which will at all times be in communication with the interior of the rod 46 through the port 61; the .ir is distributed from the distributing device through a port 62 leading from the chamber 44.

Assuming now that all the parts are properly assembled-and suppose-1tI is desired to operate the valve motors in unison so that the valves on the respective engines will be caused to operate both synchronously and so as to open like amounts: The operator may move the handle from left to right so as to uncover the port 47. Air will flow through the chamber 43 into the chamber I 44 and pass out through the port 62. In

of the lever 53. As the lever 53 in such anevent would be fulcrumed at 58 the valve 45 wvould be moved from right to left a suflicient distance to close the port 47 and 10 pounds pressure would be maintained in the chamber 44. It any of the air should leak from the chamber 44, thev spring would distend and in moving the piston 50 from 'left to right the valve 45 would be moved with it to uncover the port 47 and admit enough air to again restore the pressure to 1() pounds. If additional pressure were desired, the lever Would lie-moved still farther from left to right to uncover the port 47 and a determined additional amount of air would be adlnitted to thel casing of the distributer until the pressure had accumulated enough to again cause the piston andv spring to operate thegvalve to close the port 47. If it were desired to exhaust part ot' thev air, the operator would move the lever 53 toward the left so as to uncover the port 48 and establish communication between the chamber 44 and the port 48Vto. exhaust some of the air. Just as soon as sufficient air is exhausted, the spring 51 would distend earrying with it the piston 50 and the valve 45 to close off communication between the chamber 44 and the port 48 and retain whatever pressure remains.

I shall now proceed to describe briefly the operation of the system according to the mechanisms illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4', and

Whatever pressure is admitted through the port 62 to the pipe 15 will-be transmitted to the relays 13 and 14. Inasmuch as thc springs in these relays tend to move the pistons in one direction, and inasmuch as the springs in their distended positions cause the motor operating valves to close communication between the main reservoir 1() and the motor cylinders, it will be apparent that when the air pressure is exerted against the pistons in the relays 13 and 14 said pistons will be moved against the force vof the springs, and in view of the fact that the levers are fulcrumed at 37 'the motor operating valves will be moved so as to uncover the inlet ports forthe pipes 31 and 31 admitting pressure to the pipes 32 and 32 and through them to the cylinders of the motors 21 and 22. Now, the pressures in thc motors 2l`and 22 will cause compression of t-he springs back of the pistons, it being understood that these motors are single acting so as to cause a movement in one direction to be imparted to the pistons, with the result that the valves 38 are unseated and the engines which they control may have motive fluid admitted to them. 1.()t' course, it is apparent that in place vof the valves and valve casings 23 and 24 electrical contacts could be made for operating an electrical controller or any other device could bc opcrated by the motors 21 and Q2. T hc movement of the pistons 26 will be in proportion :f

insista to the amount of pressure admitted to the cylinders of said motors, so if 10 pounds pressure is admitted from the air distributer the relay valves will be moved a4 slight distance against the action of their springs so as to slightly uncover the ports for the pipes 31 and 31', and as soon as enough air is admitted to the motors 21 and 22 to impart a. slight movement to their pistons such movement will cause the motor operating valves to close, because when movement is imparted 4to the piston 26 the fulcrum for the levers 35 changes to the point 35', which is the connection between the lever and the piston for the relay. The amount of movement imparted to the pistons 26 Will determine the amount of opening movement imparted to the valve (if a valve be attached to it), so that the amount of Huid passing through the valve casing may be governed. If the air is exhausted from the pipes 17 and 15 back through the chamber 44 and exhaust port 48, the springs 20 Will move .the pistons .19 in a direction from left to right so as to cause the valve 28 to close off communication between the reservoir and the motor and cause what air had previously been fed to the motor or motors to be exhausted through the port 33. It will be apparent that any number of relays and fiuid motors may be controlled by connecting the necessary mechanisms to the pipe 17 and the main reservoir, and that all of these will Work simultaneously, and all of them Will be under the control of an operatorwho manipulates the lever 53. I do not desire to limit myself to the form shown in the drawings, nor do I Wish it to be understood that the mechanism is adapted for use only for steam engines, it being obvious that the motors 21 and 22 may be employed for multiple control system, as for example, for controlling two locomotives when trains are being double-headed, or for controlling the motors in a number of electric cars in an electric train, and for various other purposes.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is very similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the main dif` ference being that inl the illustration in Fig. 2, I have shown the motor as being double-acting instead of single-acting. Substantially the same mechanism is employed .y up .to the relay cylinders 18 Which are provided with the spring 20, the piston 19, link 36, the lever 35 and a motor cylinder 22. The motor cylinders are provided Withvalve casings 63 which are in communication with the main reservoir through the pi es 31. These valve casings are provided with the valves 64 connected by link 36 to the lever 35. The motor cylinder 22 is provided near its opposite ends with ports 65 and 66 which may alternately be inlet and exhaust ports, for example, from right to left, the valve part 67 will lm- -operation of its corres when the valve `64 is moved cover the port 65 and as air cannot enter the port 66 on account of the valve part 68, air will enter the left end of the piston of the cylinder 22 left to right to impart an opening movement to thevalve 38. If air is exhausted from the pipe 17 in the usual Way, the spring 20 will move the piston 19 in the relay from left to right; as the lever 35 Will then be fulcrumed at 37 the valve 64 will open the port 65 to atmosphere and exhaust the air from the left side of the piston 69 and admit air to the right side ci the piston 69 through the port 66 so as to impart a closing movement to the valve 38.

Variations of the motors, relays and similar mechanisms may be resorted to Without ldeparting from the spirit of the invention,

the operation of the distributing device and the generic features involved shown in both Figs. 1 and 2 being the same.

Having thus described my invention, What ll claim is: y

l'. In combination With a plurality of valve operating motors, a separate valve for controlling the operation of each motor, a separate relay for controlling the operation of each valve, and pressure controlling means for simultaneously delivering a constant actuating pressure to all the relay devices, and for delivering regulated pressure through the respective valves to all the m0- tors.

2. The combination with a plurality of motors, relays for operating said motors, and a manually adjustable pressure. distributing device for admitting determined degrees of uid ressure to said relays and for maintaining t e pressure delivered to Said relays constant.

3. A plurality of motors, a source of fluid pressure for said motors, an independent valve for each motor, arelay for operating Leach valve, Aand a fluid pressure device motors, motor controlling valves, relays connected to the motor" controlling valves, means for operating the relays simultaneouslyv or synchronously, and means respon- ,sive to the motor controlling valves for admitting pressure to the motors.

5. In combination with a plurality of valve operating -motors, an independent valve for controlling the operation of each motor, a pressure responsive relay ferrontro ling the operation of each v alve, a single distributing device for delivering regulable ressure to al1 the relay devices, and means $01' actuating eacli valve in response to the onding valve operating motor.

6. ln combination with. a plurality ot and move the piston 69 from valve operating motors, an independent valve for controlling the operation of each motor, a pressure responsive relay for controlling` the operation of each valve, means between each motor and its controlling valve for actuatingthe valve in response to movements of the motor, and a pressure distributing device for simultaneously admittingr actuating pressure to each relay and for maintaining the actuating pressure constant.

7. In combination with aplurality of motors, a Valve for Controlling each motor, a pressure actuated plunger for operating each valve, a manually -controlled mechanism for simultaneously distributing adjustable fluid pressure to all of said plungers, and means controllingsaid mechanism for maintaining the adjusted fluid pressure constant.

In' testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of May, 1913.

r HERBERT T. HERR.

Witnesses:

C. lV. MGGHEE, B. F. FINK. 

